Image processing apparatus capable of shifting to power saving mode, control method for the image processing apparatus, and program

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus capable of shifting to a power saving mode. The image processing apparatus includes a storing unit configured to store a document in a storage device, a notification unit configured to periodically notify an apparatus of a predetermined destination of information about a document that has been newly stored by the storing unit into the storage device, and a control unit configured to restrict shifting to a power saving mode in which the notification unit cannot make the notification after storage of a document by the storing unit has been completed and until the notification unit notifies at least information about the document.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/233,995 filed Sep. 15, 2011, which claimspriority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-211984 filed Sep. 22,2010, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capableof shifting to a power saving mode, and to a control method for theimage processing apparatus, and also to a program.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, an image processing apparatus, such as a multifunctionperipheral, can be operated in a power saving mode by stopping supply ofelectric power for specific parts thereof to reduce power consumption.More specifically, if a user instructs the image processing apparatus toshift to a power saving mode or if the user has not performed anyoperation on the image processing apparatus for a certain period oftime, this constitutes an event that causes the image processingapparatus to shift from a normal power mode to the power saving mode.

In an image processing apparatus configured as described above, even ifan event occurs which causes a shift of the mode to the power savingmode while a prescribed process is in progress in the image processingapparatus, the image processing apparatus is prohibited from shiftingfrom the normal power mode to the power saving mode.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Number 2006-222569 discusses acase where the image processing apparatus is allowed to enter a powersaving mode if an event occurs which causes a shift to a power savingmode when no job is being executed in the image processing apparatus.

Moreover, among the conventional image processing apparatuses, an imageprocessing apparatus is well known, in which if a document obtained byscanning an original, for example, is stored in a memory area called abox (hereinafter referred to as a “document storage process”), and whena new document is stored in the box, notification is given to apredetermined destination that a document has been stored in the box(hereinafter referred to as a “document storage notice”).

Issuing a document storage notice is a process in which, when a newdocument is stored in the box, information including a storage locationand a title of the document is sent by e-mail to previously setdestinations.

The document storage process is generally executed at irregularintervals. Sometimes this process is not executed for a long time, andother times a large amount of documents is stored in a short period oftime. A document storage notice described above may not be sentimmediately after the document storage process is finished, but may besent at regular intervals. When a plurality of documents have beenstored in the box within a specified time, document storage notices canbe given collectively by sending the document storage notices at regulartiming.

Generally, if a process is not being executed in the image processingapparatus, the image processing apparatus is allowed to shift to a powersaving mode. In other words, in the image processing apparatus which canperform a document storage process and issue a document storage notice,it is possible to shift to a power saving mode after a process to storea document has been completed and before a document storage noticebegins to be issued.

However, if a shift to a power saving mode is executed after a documentstorage process has been completed and before a document storage noticebegins to be issued, a problem arises as follows. Specifically, if ashift to a power saving mode takes place, power is not supplied to theparts required to issue a document storage notice. For this reason, adocument storage notice, which should be normally issued after thedocument storage process is completed, cannot be issued due to the shiftto the power saving mode.

The above-described problem can be solved when power supply is returnedfrom a power saving mode to a normal power mode at timing when adocument storage notice is issued. However, according to this method,power supply is returned from the power saving mode to the normal powermode each time a notice is issued even when a document storage processhas not been performed. In other words, it is necessary to repeat ashift to and a return from the power saving mode many times. Therefore,effects of power consumption reduction by shifting to the power savingmode cannot be sufficiently obtained.

Moreover, there is another problem with an image processing apparatuswhich executes a document storage process at irregular intervals andalso executes a process of issuing, at regular intervals, a notice thata document has been stored by the document storage process. Morespecifically, the problem is that a shift to the power saving modecannot be performed in an appropriate manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to providing a control unit to enablean image processing apparatus, which performs a document storage processand issues a document storage notice, to shift to a power saving mode inan appropriate manner.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image processingapparatus includes a storing unit configured to store a document in astorage device, a notification unit configured to notify atpredetermined timing a storage location of a document newly stored inthe storage device by the storage device, a power supply unit configuredto supply electric power to the notification unit in a normal power modeor in a power saving mode that supplies power at a reduced level lowerthan in the normal power mode, a control unit to restrict shifting fromthe normal power mode to the power saving mode after storage of adocument by the storing unit has been completed until the notificationunit notifies at least the storage location.

Further features and aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of exemplaryembodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of animage processing system according to a first exemplary embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of amultifunction peripheral (MFP) according to the first exemplaryinvention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of theMFP according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an example of a screen displayed on an operation unit of theMFP according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a document storage process in the MFPaccording to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a document storage process in the MFPaccording to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an e-mail sent to a computer accordingto the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process when an event occurs whichcauses the image processing apparatus to shift to a power saving modeaccording to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a document deletion process accordingto a second exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the inventionwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a system configuration of an image processingsystem according to a first exemplary embodiment will be descried.

An image processing system according to the first exemplary embodimentincludes a multifunction peripheral (MFP) 110, a mail server 120, and acomputer 130. Those units are connected to a network 100 and cancommunicate with one another.

The MFP 110 includes a plurality of functions such as a scan function, afacsimile function, an e-mail transmission function, and a web serverfunction. The MFP 110 is an example of an image processing apparatus,and may be an apparatus, including any one of the above-mentionedfunctions.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the MFP 110 performs a documentstorage process and sends a document storage notice by using theabove-mentioned functions. The document storage process is a process toreceive document data sent from the scanner and document data sentthrough a network or a public line, and to store the document data in aspecified storage area of a hard disk. A document storage notice is aprocess to send an e-mail to a predetermined destination stating that adocument has been stored by a document storage process.

The detailed configuration of the MFP 110 will be described below.Though only one MFP 110 is illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality of MFPsmay be connected to the network 100.

The mail server 120 serves as an SMTP sever and a POP3 server, and canreceive from the network 100 data sent by the MFP 110 and can transmitthe received data. The computer 130 receives and sends e-mails by usingthe mail server 120. The computer 130, by using a web browser mountedtherein, can access the MFP 110 from outside via the network 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, a hardware configuration of the MFP 110 in FIG. 1will be described. The MFP 110 includes a controller unit 200, anoperation unit 220, operation unit 220, a scanner 230, and a printer240. The controller unit 200 is connected to the operation unit 220, ascanner 230, and the printer 240.

The controller unit 200 controls the MFP 110. The controller unit 200includes an operation unit I/F 201, a CPU 202, a RAM 203, a device I/F204, a HDD 205, a ROM 206, a network I/F 207, and an image processingunit 208. The units included in the controller unit 200 areinterconnected via a system bus 210.

The operation unit I/F 201 is connected to the operation unit 220. Theoperation unit 220 is an integral unit combining a display device, suchas a touch panel to notify the status of the MFP 110 and operationbuttons to give instructions to the MFP 110.

The CPU 202 is an arithmetic unit to control the entire MFP 110. The RAM203 is a system work memory to enable the CPU 202 to operate, and alsoserves as an image memory to temporarily store image data. Onto the RAM203, programs, such as an operating system, system software, andapplication software are loaded.

The device I/F 204 connects the scanner 230 and the printer 240, whichare image input/output devices, to the controller unit 200 to input andoutput image data. Image data input by the scanner 230 through thedevice I/F 204 is stored in the RAM 203 or the HDD 205.

Stored data is subjected to image processing, if required, by anapplication program stored in the RAM 203 or by the image processingunit 208. When image data is output, the image data is output to theprinter 240 via the device I/F 204.

The HDD 205 is a hard disk drive, which stores an operating system,system software, application software, and image data. In the presentexemplary embodiment, document data generated by the scanner 230 readingan original is stored in the HDD 205

The ROM 206 stores a boot program of the system. The ROM 206 also storessystem programs and application programs.

The network I/F 207 is connected to a LAN and serves to input and outputimage data or information to control the MFP 110.

The image processing unit 208 performs image processing, image rotation,image encoding, resolution conversion, color space conversion, andgradation conversion on data input from the scanner 230 and data to beoutput to the printer 240.

Though not illustrated in FIG. 2, the MFP 110 includes a fax function,and is able to perform fax transmission by connecting a modem betweenthe controller unit 200 and a public line via an interface for modem.

Referring to FIG. 3, a software configuration of the MFP 110 accordingto the first exemplary embodiment will be described.

The MFP 110 includes a document management unit 320, an informationmanagement unit 304, a control unit 301, a mail transmission processingunit 303, and a power saving management unit 310. Those units areprograms which are stored in the HDD 205 or the ROM 206, and theprograms will be loaded to the RAM 203 to be executed by the CPU 202.

The document management unit 320 stores document data generated byreading an original by the scanner 230 and document data receivedexternally via a network or a public circuit in the HDD 205. Thedocument management unit 320 also manages the stored document data.Moreover, the document management unit 320 stores storage information ofdocument data in addition to the document data. In the present exemplaryembodiment, the storage information of the document data refers toinformation including a document name, a storage location (folder name)of document data, a creator of a document, and time and date ofcreation.

The power saving management unit 310 controls the MFP 110 whether topermit or prohibit shifting the MFP to a power saving mode from astandby state (normal power mode).

In the present exemplary embodiment, normal power mode refers to a statewhere power is supplied to all parts illustrated in the hardwareconfiguration in FIG. 2. The power saving mode refers to a state wherepower supplied to specific parts of the computer is reduced to a levellower than a normal level (or to zero).

The power saving mode is classified into level 1 and level 2. At level1, power supply to the operation unit 220, the scanner 230, and theprinter 240 is stopped or reduced to a lower level than that in a normaloperation. However, the other component units are supplied withnormal-level power.

At level 2, power is supplied only to the RAM 203, the network I/F 207,the operation unit I/F 201 (and a portion of the operation unit 220),but power supply to the other units is stopped. In other words, power isnot supplied to the scanner 230, the printer 240, the CPU 202, thedevice I/F 204, and the HDD 205, so that power consumption in a powersaving mode is reduced to about 1 watt to a few watts.

When the MFP 110 is operating at level 2 of power saving mode, the MFP110 cannot issue a document storage notice. In other words, it ispossible to issue a document storage notice only when the MFP 110 isoperating in the normal power mode or at level 1 of the power savingmode. On the other hand, regarding to a document storage process, evenwhen the MFP 110 is operating at level 2 of the power saving mode, inresponse to the user's operation on the operation unit 220, power issupplied to the other units of the MFP, a document storage process canbe executed.

The information management unit 304, when detecting that a new documenthas been stored in the document management unit 320, obtains detectednew document storage information (such as a document name, a storagelocation (folder name) of document data, a creator of a document, andtime and date of creation) from the document management unit 320, andstores the storage information in the HDD 205.

The control unit 301 periodically confirms whether or not the storageinformation of the new document is managed by the information managementunit 304. In the present exemplary embodiment, the confirmation iscarried out at intervals of 30 seconds. If it is confirmed that thestorage information of document data, which has been newly storeddocument data since the last confirmation, is being managed by theinformation management unit 304, the control unit 301 obtains storageinformation of the document data from the information management unit304, and instructs the mail transmission processing unit 303 to transmite-mail.

FIG. 4 is an example of a registration screen of a document storagenotice. The registration screen is displayed by accessing a web browserof the MFP 110 via a network from a web browser of the computer 130.Settings for document storage notice may be performed on the operationunit 220 of the MFP 110.

Setting items on the registration screen in FIG. 4 include a folder path403 to identify a folder used when a document storage notice is issued,a notice destination 404 to which an e-main is sent, a subject 405 ofthe e-mail, and a text 406 of the e-mail. In addition, a register button401 used to register input values of the setting items, and a cancelbutton 402 used to cancel input values for the setting items areprovided.

In the example of the registration screen in FIG. 4, when document datagenerated by reading by the scanner 230 is stored in a folder indicatedby “http://xxx/yyy/zzz” on the MFP 110, e-mail is sent to“abcdef@xxx.yyy.zzz”. When the register button 401 is pressed in a statewhere the folder path 403 to the text 406 are input, the documentmanagement unit 320 stores values input in the folder path 403 to thetext 406 in the HDD 205 and manages them.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the HDD 205 of the MFP 110 isshared by many devices on the network by using web DAV and SMB protocolsand can be accessed from other devices on the network.

Referring to FIG. 5, a document storage process in the MFP 110 accordingto the first exemplary embodiment will be described. A program thatrealizes the steps of the flowchart in FIG. 5 is stored in the HDD 205or the ROM 206 of the MFP 110. The program is loaded to the RAM 203, andis executed by the CPU 202.

The steps of the flowchart in FIG. 5 begin to be executed when the useroperates the operation unit 220 of the MFP 110 and gives an instructionto read an original.

In step S501, the document management unit 320, when receiving aninstruction to read an original, stores document data input from thescanner 230 in the HDD 205. After document data is stored, the documentmanagement unit 320 gives the information management unit 304 a noticethat a new document has been stored in the HDD 205.

In step S502, when receiving a notice from the document management unit320, the information management unit 304 determines whether the value ofa storage location of document data stored in the HDD 205 coincides witha value of a folder path 403 registered through the registration screenin FIG. 4.

If the value of the storage location of stored document data coincideswith the value of the folder path (YES in step S502), the processproceeds to step S503. On the other hand, if the two values are not thesame (NO in step S502), the process of this flowchart is finished.

In step S503, the information management unit 304 obtains storageinformation (the document name, the creator of the document, the timeand date of creation, etc.) of the document data stored in step S501from the document management unit 320. In step S504, the informationmanagement unit 304 stores the storage information of obtained documentdata in the HDD 205.

Referring to FIG. 6, a document storage notice in the MFP 110 accordingto the first exemplary embodiment will next be described. Programs toexecute steps of a flowchart in FIG. 6 are stored in the HDD 205 or theROM 206 of the MFP 110. The programs are loaded to the RAM 203 andexecuted by the CPU 202.

Each processing illustrated in the flowchart in FIG. 6 is executed atfixed intervals without being operated by the user. In other words,after power supply to the MFP 110 is turned on, each processing isexecuted regularly. When the MFP 110 is operating at level 2 of thepower saving mode, the process in FIG. 6 is not executed by returningfrom level 2 of the power saving mode to the normal power mode. In otherwords, the operations in the flowchart in FIG. 6 are performed only whenthe MFP 110 is operating in the normal power mode or at level 1 of thepower saving mode.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the process of the flowchart ofFIG. 6 is performed at intervals of 30 seconds. However, this processmay be performed at longer intervals of 5 or 10 minutes. The longer theintervals are, the longer the period of time becomes after the documentstorage process is completed until a document storage notice is issued.The real-time processing cannot be achieved.

However, as the intervals become longer, a smaller number of times ofthe processing in FIG. 6 is required, and power consumption is morelikely to be reduced. It is more probable that the document storagenotification for a plurality of document storage process is performed ata time.

In step S601, the control unit 301 confirms whether there is storageinformation of document data managed by the information management unit304. If there is storage information of document data (YES in stepS601), the process proceeds to step S602. If there is not storageinformation of document data (NO in step S601), the process of thisflowchart is finished.

In step S602, the control unit 301 issues a request to obtain storageinformation of document data from the information management unit 304.When receiving this request, the information management unit 304 readsstorage information of document data from the HDD 205, and sends thestorage information back to the control unit 301.

In step S603, the control unit 301 generates URI information to bewritten in the text of the e-mail according to the obtained storageinformation, and passes generated URI information and document datastorage information to the mail transmission processing unit 303.

In step S604, the control unit 301 creates an e-mail based on the URIinformation and document data storage information received from the mailtransmission processing unit 303, and transmits the e-mail via thenetwork I/F 207. In other words, the control unit 301 transmits thee-mail to the notice destination 404 by using the subject 405 and thetext 406 on the registration screen in FIG. 4.

In step S605, the mail transmission processing unit 303 determineswhether the e-mail transmission process in step S604 is successful ornot. If the transmission is successful (YES in step S605), the processproceeds to step S606.

In step S606, the control unit 301 receives from the mail transmissionprocessing unit 303 notification that transmission of the e-mail issuccessful. The control unit 301 gives the information management unit304 a request to delete the storage information obtained in step S502.The information management unit 304 deletes the storage information, thedeletion of which has been requested, from the HDD 205.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the e-mail transmission isunsuccessful (NO in step S605), the storage information managed by theinformation management unit 304 is not deleted, and the process of theflowchart is finished.

In some cases, there may be a plurality of storage information ofdocument data obtained in step S602. In such a case, the control unit301 determines whether it is possible to send an e-mails collectively(determine whether the notice destinations 404 are the same in value),and in step S603, the control unit 301 writes a plurality of items ofURI information in the text of an e-mail, and sends the e-mail in stepS604.

Referring to an example illustrated in FIG. 7, the e-mail sent by themail transmission processing unit 303 in step S604 will be described.FIG. 7 illustrates a text of an e-mail to be sent if document data whichhas been read by the scanner 230 is stored in the folder bus 403 that isregistered in the registration screen in FIG. 4.

As is evident from FIG. 7, the URI information generated in step S603has been added to the text 406. Therefore, a user who reads this e-mailinstantly recognizes (in 30 seconds at the latest) that a new documenthas been stored in the box. The user who gives an instruction to performa document storage process may be different from the user who reads thee-mail.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the MFP 110 according to the first exemplaryembodiment, a process will be described which controls whether to permitor prohibit shifting from the normal power mode to the power savingmode. The programs for executing the steps in the flowchart in FIG. 8are stored in the HDD 205 or the ROM 206 of the MFP 110. The programsare loaded to the RAM 203 and executed by the CPU 202.

The flowchart in FIG. 8 is started when an event occurs which causespower supply to shift to level 2 of the power saving mode when the MFPis in the normal power mode. The event that causes a shift to level 2 ofthe power saving mode may occur in response to a signal sent from theuser at the operation unit 220. The event may be arranged toautomatically occur when a job has not been executed in the MFP 110 fora predetermined length of time or when the MFP has not been operated fora predetermined length of time.

In step S801, the control unit 301 makes an inquiry to the informationmanagement unit 304 whether an e-mail transmission process is beingexecuted via the network I/F 207. The control unit 301 also makes aninquiry whether any other process (a printing process or a user'soperation, for example) being executed through the device I/F 204 or theoperation unit I/F 201.

If it is determined based on the inquiry that an e-mail transmissionprocess or some other process is being executed (YES in step S801), theprocess proceeds to step S805. On the other hand, if it is determinedthat an e-mail transmission process is not being executed and no otherprocess is being performed (NO in step S801), the process proceeds tostep S802.

In step S802, the control unit 301 makes an inquiry to the informationmanagement unit 304 whether there is storage information of newly storeddocument data. If it is determined based on the inquiry that there isstorage information of newly stored document data (YES in step S802),the process proceeds to step S805. If it is determined that there is nostorage information of newly stored document data (NO in step S802), theprocess proceeds to step S803.

In step S805, the control unit 301 sends a reply to the power savingmanagement unit 310 stating that shifting from the normal power mode tolevel 2 of the power saving mode is prohibited, and finishes theprocessing. The power saving management unit 310 prohibits shifting fromthe normal power mode to level 2 of the power saving mode.

If an event that causes a shift to the power saving mode is an eventbased on an instruction sent from a user, a message is displayed on thetouch panel on the operation unit 220 to notify the user that shiftingto the power saving mode is prohibited.

The control unit 301 may control power supply in such a way as toprohibit shifting to level 2 of the power saving mode, but permitshifting to level 1 of the power saving mode. At level 1 of the powersaving mode, power supply to the operation unit 220, the scanner 230,and the printer 240 is stopped. However, power is supplied to thecontroller unit 200, so that it is still possible to send a documentstorage notice as illustrated in FIG. 6.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, even if an e-mailtransmission process is not executed in step S801, when the control unit301 determines in step S802 that there is storage information ofdocument data, the control unit 301 prohibits shifting to level 2 of thepower saving mode.

In step S803, the control unit 301 makes an inquiry to the documentmanagement unit 320 and determines whether a document storage process inFIG. 4 is being executed. If the control unit 301 determines that adocument storage process is in progress, the process returns to stepS802, and again confirms whether there is storage information ofdocument data. On the other hand, if the control unit 301 determinesthat a document storage process is not being executed (NO in step S803),the process proceeds to step S804.

In step S804, the control unit 301 sends a reply to the power savingmanagement unit 310 stating that it permits shifting to level 2 of thepower saving mode. The power saving management unit 310 stops powersupply to the CPU 202, the HDD 205, the scanner 230, and the printer240, and shifts power supply to level 2 of the power saving mode.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, if there is an e-mail tobe generated, and transmitted a certain period of time afterward, theMFP 110 is controlled not to shift to the power saving mode even when aprocess is not in progress in the MFP 110. Therefore, the MFP 110 isprevented from being shifted to the power saving mode after a documentstorage process is performed with the e-mail in which URI informationhas been written being left untransmitted. In other words, a problem canbe prevented that a document storage notice is not issued for manyhours.

After all the information stored in the information management unit 304has been notified by the e-mail, since shifting to level 2 of the powersaving mode is permitted, power consumption can be reduced in anappropriate manner.

If transmission of the e-mail fails, newly stored storage information ofdocument data is saved in the information management unit 304 withoutbeing deleted. For this reason, shifting to the power saving mode can berestricted until a next document storage notice is issued. Thus, theprocess can be continued without shifting to the power saving mode for aperiod until a document storage notice can be issued in an appropriatemanner.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, it is not necessary toreturn from the power saving mode to the normal power mode when apredetermined, time comes for a document storage notice to be issued asthe conventional apparatus. As a result, after a series of processinghave been executed appropriately, it is possible to shift to the powersaving mode. Therefore, the number of times the MFP needs to bewastefully shifted to the power saving mode and returned, from the powersaving mode can be reduced.

In the present exemplary embodiment, as a generation condition of anevent for shifting to level 2 of the power saving mode, an event thatcauses shifting to the power saving mode can be allowed to occur oncondition that a job is not being executed in the MFP for apredetermined length of time. In the MFP according to the present,exemplary embodiment, even if intervals of a predetermined length oftime (hereafter referred to as a predetermined length of time T1) set asa condition for this event generation condition are set to be shorterthan a period of periodically issuing a document storage noticethereafter referred, to as T2), shifting to the power saving mode can beperformed appropriately.

More specifically, if a predetermined length of time T1>a period T2, anevent never occur which causes shifting to the power saving mode after adocument storage process has been executed and before a document storagenotice is issued. However, if a predetermined period of time T1<a periodT2, an event may occur which causes shifting to the power saving modeafter a document storage process has been executed and before a documentstorage notice is issued.

Even when an event occur which causes shifting to the power saving modeif a predetermined length of time T1>a period T2, according to thepresent exemplary embodiment, an advantageous effect is can be obtainedthat shifting to the power saving mode can be performed appropriately.

In the first exemplary embodiment, in a case where a document storagenotice needs to be issued after a document storage process has beenexecuted and a certain length of time elapses, shifting to the powersaving mode is restricted. However, when a newly stored document hasbeen deleted before a document storage notice is issued. It is notnecessary to restrict shifting to the power saving mode.

In a second exemplary embodiment, in a case where it is not necessary toissue a document storage notice any more because the document has beendeleted, shifting to the power saving mode is permitted. Since theconfiguration of the MFP 110 according to the second exemplaryembodiment is similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment, itsdescription is omitted.

Referring to FIG. 9, a process of deleting a document stored by thedocument management unit 320 in the MFP according to the second,exemplary embodiment will be described. The programs that execute thesteps of the flowchart in FIG. 9 are stored in the HDD 205 or the ROM206 of the MFP 110. The programs are loaded to the RAM 203 and executedby the CPU 202.

The flowchart in FIG. 9 is started when a user issues an instruction todelete a document stored in the box.

In step S901, the information management unit 304 determines that adeletion notice of document data has been received from the documentmanagement unit 320. In step S902, the information management unit 304confirms the location where the document data has been stored. In stepS902, the information management unit 304 determines whether thelocation where the deleted document data was stored was in apredetermined area where a document storage notice is to be issued.

If it is determined that the document data was stored in thepredetermined area (YES in step S902), the process proceeds to stepS903. If it is determined that the deletion notice was stored outside ofthe predetermined area (NO in step S902), nothing is done and theprocess is finished.

In step S903, the control unit 301 determines whether deleted documentdata is included in the storage information stored by the informationmanagement unit 304. The control unit 301 makes an inquiry to theinformation management unit 304 whether storage information of thedeleted document data is still stored. The information management unit304 confirms whether the storage information of the inquired documentdata still remains in the storage information saved in the HDD 205.

If the document data still remains, the control unit 301 makes a requestto the information management unit 304 to delete the information. Theinformation management unit 304 deletes the storage information of therequested document data from the HDD 205, and the process is finished.If the storage information of the deleted document data is not stored,the process is finished.

In the present exemplary embodiment, when document data is deleted,storage information of the document data is also deleted. As a result,in step 601 of the flowchart in FIG. 6, the control unit 301 determinesthat there is no storage information of the document data. As a result,an e-mail of a document storage notice is not transmitted. Therefore, itis possible to prevent an inconvenience that shifting to a power savingmode is impossible because of the presence of storage information whichis not necessary any more.

The present invention can be realized also by executing the processdescribed below. Software (programs) for implementing the functions ofthe above exemplary embodiments is supplied, to a system or an apparatusvia a network or various types of storage media, A computer (or a CPU oran MPU, for example) of the system or the apparatus reads and executesthe programs.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus, comprising: astorage device which stores documents; an interface which sends ane-mail; a controller which determines whether or not a document of whichsending of an email including information indicative of a storagelocation has not been completed has been stored in the storage device,and controls the interface to send an email including informationindicative of a storage location of the stored document on the basis ofdetermination that the document has been stored in the storage device,and wherein, in a case where a document has been stored in the storagedevice and an email including information indicative of a storagelocation of the document has not been sent, the controller is notshifted to a power saving mode, which is a mode of reducing powersupplied to the controller, on the basis that an instruction forshifting to the power saving mode is received.
 2. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the documenthas been stored in the storage device, the email including informationindicative of the storage location of the document has not been sent,the controller is shifted to the power saving mode, which is a mode ofreducing power supplied to the controller, on the basis that theinstruction for shifting to the power saving mode is received.
 3. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storagelocation is a universal resource identifier.
 4. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller performs thedetermination at regular intervals.
 5. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the document is stored in the storagedevice according to a user's instruction.
 6. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage device is configuredto automatically store documents received from other apparatuses.
 7. Acontrol method for an image processing apparatus, comprising: storingdocuments in a storage device; determining whether or not a document ofwhich sending of an email including information indicative of a storagelocation has not been completed has been stored in the storage device,by a controller and controls an interface which sends an e-mail to sendan email including information indicative of a storage location of thestored document on the basis of determination that the document has beenstored in the storage device, and wherein, in a case where a documenthas been stored in the storage device and an email including informationindicative of a storage location of the document has not been sent, thecontroller is not shifted to a power saving mode, which is a mode ofreducing power supplied to the controller, on the basis that aninstruction for shifting to the power saving mode is received.
 8. Anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program tocause the image processing apparatus to execute the control methodaccording to claim
 7. 9. A data processing apparatus, comprising: astorage device which stores data; and a controller which controls tosend an e-mail including information indicative of a storage location ofdata which is stored in the storage device, the controller being shiftedto a power saving mode on the basis that an event of shifting to a powersaving mode occurs, wherein in a case where data has been stored in thestorage device and an e-mail including information indicative of astorage location of the data has not been sent, the controller is notshifted to a power saving mode when the event occurs.
 10. The dataprocessing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in a case where datahas been stored in the storage device and an e-mail includinginformation indicative of a storage location of the data has been sent,the controller is able to shift to a power saving mode on the basis thatan instruction for shifting to the power saving mode is received. 11.The data processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in a casewhere data has been stored in the storage device and an e-mail includinginformation indicative of a storage location of the data has been sent,the controller is shifted to a power saving mode when the event occurs.12. The data processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein thepower saving mode is a power mode for stopping or reducing powersupplied to the controller.
 13. The data processing apparatus accordingto claim 9, wherein the power saving mode is a power mode that powerconsumption of the controller is less than power consumption of thecontroller in a normal power mode.
 14. The data processing apparatusaccording to claim 9 further comprising, an operation unit configured tonotify a user that the controller is not shifted to the power savingmode.
 15. The data processing apparatus according to claim 9, whereinthe storage location is a universal resource identifier.
 16. The dataprocessing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controllercontrols to send the email to a destination registered in associationwith the storage location.
 17. The data processing apparatus accordingto claim 9, wherein the storage location is a previously set folder. 18.The data processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein thecontroller periodically confirms whether data is newly stored in thestorage device.
 19. The data processing apparatus according to claim 9further comprising, a scanner which reads a document, wherein the datastored in the storage device is data obtained by reading the document bythe scanner.
 20. The data processing apparatus according to claim 9,wherein the data stored in the storage device is data received fromother apparatuses via a network.
 21. A data processing apparatus,comprising: a storage device which stores data; and a controller whichcontrols to send an e-mail including information indicative of a storagelocation of data which is stored in the storage device, the controllerbeing shifted to a power saving mode on the basis that an event ofshifting to a power saving mode occurs, wherein the event includes atleast that the e-mail has been sent.
 22. A data processing methodcomprising: storing data in a storage device; and controlling to send ane-mail including information indicative of a storage location of datawhich is stored in the storage device by a controller, the controllerbeing shifted to a power saving mode on the basis that an event ofshifting to a power saving mode occurs, wherein in a case where data hasbeen stored in the storage device and an e-mail including informationindicative of a storage location of the data has not been sent, thecontroller is not shifted to a power saving mode when the event occurs.23. A data processing method comprising: storing data in a storagedevice; and controlling to send an e-mail including informationindicative of a storage location of data which is stored in the storagedevice by a controller, the controller being shifted to a power savingmode on the basis that an event of shifting to a power saving modeoccurs, wherein the event includes at least that the e-mail has beensent.
 24. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing aprogram for causing a data processing apparatus to perform a datacontrol method, the data control method comprising: storing data in astorage device; and controlling to send an e-mail including informationindicative of a storage location of data which is stored in the storagedevice by a controller, the controller being shifted to a power savingmode on the basis that an event of shifting to a power saving modeoccurs, wherein in a case where data has been stored in the storagedevice and an e-mail including information indicative of a storagelocation of the data has not been sent, the controller is not shifted toa power saving mode when the event occurs.
 25. A non-transitory computerreadable storage medium storing a program for causing a data processingapparatus to perform a data control method, the data control methodcomprising: storing data in a storage device; and controlling to send ane-mail including information indicative of a storage location of datawhich is stored in the storage device by a controller, the controllerbeing shifted to a power saving mode on the basis that an event ofshifting to a power saving mode occurs, wherein the event includes atleast that the e-mail has been sent.